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Sea Cave

Our Services

Services.

Professional aquarium services backed by five decades of hands-on experience. Servicing, coral propagation, custom builds — and we buy your frags.

Calico fantail goldfish in a clean, well-kept freshwater tank at Sea Cave Inc. in Erie, PA — the kind of system our maintenance service keeps healthy

01  /  Professional Aquarium Maintenance

Tank Servicing.

Saltwater reefs, freshwater planted, FOWLR, and everything between — we keep them all running. Water changes, equipment maintenance, chemistry testing, livestock health checks, algae control. Routes scheduled around your life so you enjoy the tank without the work.

  • Saltwater reef & FOWLR systems
  • Freshwater planted & community tanks
  • Home and office aquariums
  • Weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly plans
  • Equipment repair & replacement
  • Emergency service available
Enquire — (814) 456-9445
Coral propagation frag tank at Sea Cave Inc.

02  /  Sustainable Reef Propagation

Captive-Bred Coral Farming.

Our on-site coral propagation facility produces captive-bred frags — hardier, more colorful, and already acclimated to aquarium conditions. Better survival rates than wild-caught, and better for the ocean.

  • Small polyp, large polyp, and soft coral frags
  • Already adapted to tank conditions
  • Higher survival rates than wild-caught
  • Sustainable and eco-friendly
  • New frags available regularly
Enquire — (814) 456-9445
Torch coral and acan brain frags in a reef display tank at Sea Cave Inc. in Erie, PA

03  /  Bring Us Your Coral

We Buy Frags.

Growing out your reef and short on space? We buy healthy coral frags from local hobbyists — bring them by the shop and we'll take a look. If it's something our customers are after, we'll make you an offer. Call (814) 456-9445 first so we can confirm what we're buying that week.

  • Healthy SPS, LPS, soft coral & zoa frags
  • Local hobbyist frags welcome
  • Brought in-store for a look-over
  • We'll make an offer on what we can use
  • Call ahead to confirm what we're buying
  • Feeds our rotating frag selection

Recently in the frag tanks

Torch coral and acan brain frags under blue reef lighting at Sea Cave Inc.
Hammer, acan, and zoa frags on the rack in a Sea Cave Inc. reef display
Mixed LPS and soft coral frags in a Sea Cave Inc. display tank
Enquire — (814) 456-9445
A blue-lit reef display at Sea Cave Inc. in Erie, PA — mixed corals and a clownfish, the kind of custom reef system we design, build and stock

04  /  Design, Build & Stock

Custom Tank Setup.

Reef, FOWLR, planted freshwater, dirt-substrate scapes, 500-gallon showpieces — we design and build the whole spectrum. Equipment selection, plumbing, cycling, stocking plan, and the long support tail that comes after the install crew leaves.

  • Reef & FOWLR saltwater systems
  • Planted freshwater & community builds
  • Equipment selection & sourcing
  • Tank cycling & water chemistry setup
  • Stocking plan & species selection
  • Ongoing support after installation
Enquire — (814) 456-9445
A school of clownfish in a Sea Cave Inc. display tank — fish find new homes here

05  /  Free Drop-Off, Sometimes Store Credit

Fish Rehoming.

Got a fish you can't keep — outgrew the tank, moving, lost interest, took on a rescue that needs a different home? Bring them by. We rehome at no cost and, depending on species, size, and current stock, sometimes offer store credit. Call (814) 456-9445 first so we can hold space and confirm we can take what you have.

  • Free drop-off for any species we carry
  • Saltwater fish, freshwater fish, coral, inverts
  • Store credit on case-by-case basis
  • No-judgment hand-off, even for impulse buys
  • Call ahead so we can prep quarantine space
  • Erie pickup possible for large tanks
Enquire — (814) 456-9445

The process

Three conversations. One tank you'll actually enjoy.

01

Consultation

Start with a call or walk-in. We listen before we spec — goals, space, budget, experience level.

02

Design & Spec

Tailored equipment list, livestock plan, and timeline. No upsell, no filler.

03

Install & Support

Delivery, setup, and cycling. Then ongoing support — as hands-on or hands-off as you want.

Frequently asked

Questions we hear
every week.

Short answers to the most common things clients ask before booking. Something missing? Call the store — we'll answer plainly.

  • What's included in regular tank servicing?

    Scheduled water changes, filter and pump maintenance, full water-chemistry panel (salinity, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, nitrate, phosphate on reef systems), glass cleaning, and a livestock health check. If we catch equipment on its way out, we flag it before it fails — no surprise emergencies.

  • How quickly can you respond to an emergency?

    Existing service clients get same-day or next-morning response for livestock or equipment emergencies in the Erie area. New clients get next-available — usually inside 48 hours. Call the store at (814) 456-9445 and tell us what's happening.

  • What does a custom tank build actually cost?

    Nano reef setups (20–40 gal) typically land $1,800–3,500 installed. Mid-size display builds (75–125 gal) run $4,500–9,000 depending on equipment tier and rockwork. 200+ gallon showpieces are quoted individually. We don't pad the quote — you see the exact equipment list and livestock plan before you commit.

  • How long does a custom build take from consult to livestock?

    Typical timeline is 4–8 weeks from signed spec. Week one is equipment sourcing; weeks two and three are tank delivery, plumbing, and dry-rock aquascape; then a 3–5 week cycle before first livestock goes in. Rushed tanks kill fish — we don't skip the cycle.

  • Are your corals really captive-bred?

    Every frag on our coral farming tables was either grown in-house or sourced from a known captive-bred lineage. That means they're already adapted to aquarium light, flow, and water chemistry — survival rates are dramatically higher than wild-caught, and you're not taking anything off a reef.

  • Do you service aquariums outside Erie?

    We service the greater Erie region — roughly a 30-minute radius covering Erie, Millcreek, Harborcreek, Fairview, and North East. Custom builds we'll travel further for; emergencies further out we'll talk through on the phone first.

  • Do you take trade-ins or buy back livestock?

    Yes on both — for store credit. Bring in healthy livestock you can no longer keep, or a full tank setup you've outgrown, and we'll work out a credit. We quarantine everything that comes in before it hits the sales floor.

Ready when you are

Tell us about
your aquarium.

A service call, a coral order, a full custom build — start with a call or send a note and we'll take it from there.

(814) 456-9445Send a message